Karnataka - Bijapur   

Bijapur students stage protest against WTO agreement

Staff Correspondent

`Education is being marketed on the lines of a commodity'

YOUTH POWER: College students holding demonstration under the banner of AIDSO against inclusion of education under General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) of WTO, in Bijapur on Tuesday

BIJAPUR: Students from different colleges on Tuesday staged a protest against bringing education under the purview of the World Trade Organisation-sponsored General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS). Protesters took out a procession in city under the banner of All-India Democratic Students Organisation (AIDSO) before holding a demonstration on the premises of Deputy Commissioner's office here. The AIDSO office-bearers, Mallikarjun, Vidyanand, Chennagonda, Chandru and Sadanand condemned the WTO agreement that considered the field of education a trade sector. It was nothing but marketing of education on the lines of commodities, they said.

They suspected a hidden agenda of the developed nations especially those practicing capitalism behind the agreement that would come into force by the month end. Unfortunately India was also party to the pact, the protestors said.

It would be impossible for economically poor students to pursue higher education including professional courses.

The implementation of GATS should be stopped or the country should force a proper clause towards protecting the interests of poor and meritorious students, they said. A memorandum was submitted to district administration. Student representatives from different colleges, Jyothi, Shankar, Anand, Basavaraj and Gajanan participated in the protest.

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Bijapur students stage protest against WTO agreement

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